Unauthorized construction glare on Kolkata's heritage hotel

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has filed an FIR against Lalit Great Eastern hotel for unauthorized construction near the Currency Building, a national monument built in the Italianate style in 1833.Krishnendu Bandyopadhyay&Subhro Niyogi | TNN | September 08, 2015, 14:00 IST

The heritage hotel, located just over 100 metre from Currency Building in BBD Bag, has undergone extensive redevelopment with a new block being constructed between two heritage blocks, one of the Victorian era and the other of the Edwardian era. ASI, which appeared to have been in slumber while KMC sanctioned the plans and construction went ahead, has now woken up and slapped a notice on the hotel for violating the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act. The ASI wants the contemporary block razed.

According to superintending archaeologist AK Patel, the hotel that is located in the regulated area did not seek approval from the National Monument Authority (NMA) while going ahead with its plans. “Taking permission is not optional but mandatory. Details of the proposed structure have to be submitted to NMA through the regional office of ASI. Since this was blatantly ignored, we have labelled the construction illegal and filed an FIR on June 15, 2015, with the Hare Street police station,” said Patel.

ASI regional director PK Mishra, who is competent authority for NMA (Bengal), said there could be no exception to the Act. “We will go to any extent possible to curb blatant violations of the Act, including seeking legal redress. We have already moved court against developer Shishmahal Construction Pvt Ltd for constructing a building at 8 Strand Road, which is 117 metre away from Metcalfe Hall, also a national monument,” said Mishra.

Incidentally, the Lalit Great Eastern too is located at a similar distance from Currency Building. Sources at the hotel said the management had replied to an ASI show-cause notice. But when approached by TOI, Lalit Great Eastern spokesperson refused to divulge the contents of its reply or comment on the matter. General manager Rakesh Mitra was unavailable for comment.

The hotel has also been hauled up by KMC for delay in restoring the Victorian era heritage block 1. While the hotel opened two years ago with the new contemporary block and the restored Edwardian heritage block 2, the restoration of the Victorian block has surpassed the deadline of last quarter of 2014.

While Lalit Great Eastern is the most high-profile property that is in the dock, others that have been similarly hauled up by ASI include Amber Restaurant's development on Waterloo Street and West Bengal Financial Infrastructure Development Corporation at 10 Old Court House Street. FIRs have been lodged against Deepak Khullar of Amber and the MD of WBFIDC for carrying out construction without NMA sanction.